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BBC News

The BBC’s only English language programme entirely dedicated to the war in Ukraine and its fallout, Ukrainecast is your go-to podcast which investigates the biggest issues around the conflict: Could Putin push the nuclear button? How could Donald Trump end the war in 24 hours? What is the price for peace? The podcast is hosted by Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire and BBC Monitoring’s Vitaly Shevchenko. Ukrainecast covers the most important topics around the conflict and speaks to the real people who’ve lived through several years of war. It also brings you agenda-setting interviews with special guests each week such as UK foreign secretary David Cameron, former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and pre-eminent Russia expert Fiona Hill.

You can fill out our audience questionnaire here: bit.ly/ukrainecastfeedback

GET IN TOUCH: You can join our Ukrainecastonline community here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to +443301239480 Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk
You can listen to the latest episode of Ukrainecast anytime on your smart speaker by saying “Alexa, Ask BBC Sounds for Ukrainecast."
If you enjoy Ukrainecast (and if you’re reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p05299nl

Ukrainecast

Is Ukraine seeing an exodus of young men? Why does Russia have veto power over UN resolutions? And would Moscow defend Minsk if Nato allies invoked Article 5 in response to an attack by Belarus?

To answer your questions, Lucy Hockings is joined by senior digital journalist Laura Gozzi, and Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse. The team also discuss US aid, China’s role in the conflict, and whether Vladimir Putin is grooming a successor for the top job in the Kremlin. 

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The executive producer was Lewis Vickers. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Q&A: Russia's veto power, Nato's Article 5, and Putin's succession plan

As a solution to the conflict remains elusive and casualties mount, what is it like to treat those injured while defending their country?

This week we are speaking with two surgeons, Dr Danylo Turkevich and Dr Shehan Hettiaratchy, who have witnessed the consequences of the fighting in Ukraine close up. 

Plus Victoria is joined by our correspondent Sarah Rainsford to discuss a pro-EU election victory in Moldova, amid allegations of Russian interference.

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The social producer was Elizabeth Chalmers. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

The surgeons treating frontline soldiers: “Every day is a mass casualty incident”

There was widespread surprise at the UN General Assembly this week, when Donald Trump appeared to drastically alter his tone on the war in Ukraine. His new insistence that Ukraine could win back all of its territory on the battlefield marks a significant departure from what has become the consensus view among military observers, and President Zelensky welcomed his comments as a "big shift". So, even as Russia dismisses the claims as "erroneous", could this change of rhetoric lead to a policy reset from the United States in its response to the conflict?

This week, Lucy and Vitaly are joined by the BBC's Europe Digital Editor, Paul Kirby, to answer your questions. They discuss whether this is an opportunity for Kyiv to reclaim international attention, after repeated Russian incursions of Nato airspace forced allies to focus on the defence of their own borders.

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The executive producer was Lewis Vickers. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Q&A: Trump’s UN turnaround, Zelensky’s weapons warning, and Putin assassination plots

As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, repeated Russian violations of Nato airspace have prompted warnings from some Nato countries that Russia should expect jets to be shot down if they continue. 

Secretary general Mark Rutte has insisted allied nations are ready to defend "every inch" of Nato's borders.
 
Victoria and Vitaly discuss how serious they are, and, they’re joined by the Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, who gives his perspective on Nato's response to the incursions. 

And, we react to the return of the Intervision international music contest in Moscow.
 
Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.

The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. 

You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Is Nato ready to shoot down Russian jets?

As Donald Trump is afforded a royal welcome by the United Kingdom, many are seeing his unprecedented second state visit as a test of whether soft power diplomacy still works. The trip comes as Washington insists it will only apply additional sanctions against Moscow if Europe stops buying Russian oil. So can Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer get the US president to change his position?

This week, Jamie and Vitaly are joined by the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale, who has been observing events in Windsor where King Charles III hosted President Trump. 

Today’s episode is presented by Jamie Coomarasamy and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The executive producer was Lewis Vickers. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Q&A: Trump & King Charles, Russian oil and a lesson on drones

Russia and Belarus have been staging joint military drills in an apparent message of strength to the West, but the relationship between US President Donald Trump and authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko seems to be warming.

Dozens of political prisoners have been freed from Belarusian prisons as part of a deal between the two countries, and some sanctions on Belarus have been eased. President Trump even sent Mr Lukashenko some cufflinks as a birthday gift.

The BBC’s Russia editor Steve Rosenberg joins us to describe witnessing the drills close up, and give his take on the apparent thawing of relations.

Plus, we speak to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who’s currently in exile in Lithuania.

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Why is Trump making deals with Belarus?

A major incident occurred on Ukraine’s doorstep this week when at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, four of which were shot down. Despite Russia’s insistence that it had no intention of striking targets inside Poland, this is nonetheless being considered a significant test both of the durability of Nato’s eastern flank, and the resolve of its member states to defend it.

To discuss the response to this incursion, Lucy and Vitaly are joined by BBC Verify’s Olga Robinson and security correspondent Frank Gardner. They consider the prospect of escalation, and explain why western leaders feel they have to tread so carefully. 

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Jack Graysmark. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The executive producer was Lewis Vickers. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Q&A: Russian drones in Poland and what it means for Nato

After a Ukrainian government building was damaged in a Russian strike for the first time, Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House that he was ready to implement new sanctions against Moscow. So, what might ‘phase two’ of a US sanctions package look like, and could it impact the Kremlin’s ability to finance its ongoing invasion?

To discuss Washington’s options, we’re joined by Stephanie Baker, a senior writer in Bloomberg’s investigations team and author of ‘Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia’. Plus, Mikey Kay from the Security Brief on BBC News gives his take on how this latest strike could have happened.

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.

The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

A government building struck in Kyiv and a new threat from Trump

Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer have once again convened the so-called ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in Paris to consolidate proposals for post-war security guarantees for Ukraine. But as Europe looks to a hypothetical future, a growing alliance led by China is focused on a new era of global leadership which Xi Jinping says has already arrived. The Chinese president welcomed a host of world leaders this week, with none more notable than Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who is continuing his re-emergence on the diplomatic stage. 

To answer your questions, Lucy and Vitaly are joined by the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet. As US-led peace efforts continue to falter, they discuss the implications for Ukraine, with Russia’s non-western allies showing no sign of relinquishing either economic or political support for the ongoing invasion.

You can fill out our audience questionnaire here: bit.ly/ukrainecastfeedback

Today’s episode is presented by Lucy Hockings and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The series producer is Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Q&A: Putin in China, EU aspirations and western escalation

As Vladimir Putin rubs shoulders with Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi in Beijing, the West’s failure to force Russia into peace in Ukraine has rarely been portrayed more starkly. Despite sanctions threats, neither China nor India has shown any sign of curtailing trade with Russia, and in response to Donald Trump’s decision to single out Delhi for additional tariffs over its dealings in Russian energy, Prime Minister Modi appears to be looking elsewhere for diplomatic cover.

To discuss how Moscow can benefit from strengthening these alliances, Victoria and Vitaly are joined by pre-eminent Russia expert, Fiona Hill, who is currently a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution - a Washington-based foreign policy think tank. She gives her take on the state of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, and what the US and Europe might do next.

You can fill out our audience questionnaire here: bit.ly/ukrainecastfeedback

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Laurie Kalus and Julia Webster. The technical producer was Rohan Madison. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

As Putin meets Xi, is China invested in Russia's invasion?

Dmytro Kuleba spent four years working as Ukraine’s foreign minister before he left his post in September 2024. In a revealing interview he talks about his time working for Volodymyr Zelensky, shares his views on the outgoing Biden administration and tells us whether incoming President Trump can really negotiate peace. 

Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.
 
The producers were Ben Carter, Ryan Johnston and Clare Williamson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sara Wadeson.
 
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480

You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

Dmytro Kuleba on… understanding Trump and working for Zelensky

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